LANGKAWI – Malaysian police have detained for questioning a lead figure in conspiracy circles who is wanted over the kidnapping of an 8-year-old girl in France.
French prosecutors had last month issued an international arrest warrant for Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann, who has reportedly been illegally living in Malaysia for several years.
Sources said Daillet-Wiedemann, 54, was arrested over his residency status and may be expelled, or authorities could use the warrant, which entails a far lengthier procedure.
The girl, identified as Mia, was taken by several men in her mother’s employ from her grandmother’s home in France in mid-April.
Her mother and six men were indicted over the high-profile abduction case following an intense five-day search that ended in Switzerland.
The woman’s associates were anti-system activists who claim that children in care are unfairly taken from their parents.
She had lost custody of Mia and was no longer allowed to see her alone or speak with her on the phone.
Investigators believed Daillet-Wiedemann – known to police as a proponent of conspiracy theories and populist takeover of the state – may have helped organise the abduction.
After the incident, the man posted a video saying that big media is trying to discredit them as much as possible by accusing him of setting up the kidnapping.
“Our organisation returns children kidnapped by the state to parents, at their request. There is absolutely no kidnapping.”
Mia has since been returned to her grandmother’s care.
Daillet-Wiedemann is listed as a person of interest by Interpol over the alleged abduction case, and investigators spent over a month searching for him in Langkawi.
The saga has caused much disquiet among the expatriate community on the island, as many begin to wonder about the Frenchman.
He was reportedly a politician who left France after getting frustrated with the situation back home and was living in Langkawi for the past several years, with some expatriates admitting to have met him.
The Frenchman is said to be amenable and can easily strike up conversations with the travel-trade community, residents and expatriates, many of whom prefer to remain on the island due to the pandemic back home.
A source also confirmed that Daillet-Wiedemann, his French live-in partner and three children, including an infant, are currently held at the remand facility of the district police headquarters.
His arrest involved a special police unit that, with the help of Interpol, tracked him down to his home in Ulu Melaka, Langkawi.
He was detained on the charge of abusing his tourist visa, which only permitted a six-month stay. However, it remains to be seen if he will be repatriated to France by Interpol.
It was earlier reported that Bukit Aman has not concluded an extradition agreement with France.
The French embassy is said to be working on the possible release of Daillet-Wiedemann’s companion and three children based on humanitarian grounds after complaints were lodged that the detention cell conditions are unsuitable for them.
The Frenchman is said to be a leftist politician, whose online posts are akin to conspiracy theories, including his opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine, face masks and taxation policy. – The Vibes, May 31, 2021
